teeters



(Model-.J

E.P. TEETERS.

LOOK.

Patented Feb,.12`,v1884.

.Jillll -LIMPIA Ml VEN T019 NiTD rari-:s

ELrsHA r. rnmnrnns, or ALLrAivcn, onto.

LocK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 293,375, dated `February 1:2, 1884. Application ined April 11, lees, (Model.)

`.T @ZZ whom, t'tmcty concern: Y

act description of the invention, such as will Y enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in locks, the object being to provide a lock which shall automatically engage with the lockingstaples when they are forced into it and .forcibly eject them when it is unlocked, and which shall combine simplicity of construction and ease of operation with durability and efficiency in use.

With these objects in view my invention consists in certain details of construction a-nd combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a View in perspective of alock constructed in accordance with `my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof. Fig. 3 is a view of the lock in vertical longitudinal section, showing the parts of the lock in the adjustment due to them when engaged with the locking-staples. Fig. 4L is a plan view of the case in which the bolts and tumblers are located,the shield of the case being removed. Fig. 5 is a similar View, showing ne of the lock-bolts, the guardplate, and the lock-tumblers. Fig. 6V is a View, showing plan and reverse views of one of the lock-bolts. Figs. 7 and S, respectively, are similar views of one of the lock and one of the auxiliary tumblers. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the guard-plate. Fig. l0 is a View of the shield. Fig. ll is a view of the ejector. Fig. 12 is' a view in side elevation of the key, and Fig. 13 represents one of the stales. p IIhe lock-casing A, which may be constructed in any desired manner, is provided with four perforated flanges, B, by means of which the lock is attached to the mail-pouch or other article with which it is used. The outer face, C, of the said casing is provided with an elongated slot, D, which is closed by suitable plate, E, located within the casing, and provided `with a boss, F, conforming in shape to the .said slot, Vand provided with the key-hole G.

Sufficient space is left between the face of the casing and the plate E, to permit a card, H," to be interposed between them, the card being introduced into the said space through either of the two slots I, respectively, located in the opposite ends of the casing. The card is held in position by the friction derived from its deection by the boss F, and it is designed that descriptive matter of some kind shall appear upon its face. Vhen, for instance, the locks 4are employed upon mail-pouches, a set of interchangeable cards, indicating 4the destination of the pouches, will be employed. The cards also fulfill another office, in that by covering the key-hole in the plate E they eX- clude dirt from the mechanism of the lock. The lock-bolts and tumblers of the lock are located within an open oblong case, J, the same being held in' place in the casing A, both by a stud, K, projecting from one of the end walls thereof, and arranged to enter a suitable aperture, L, formed in one end of the case, and by a screw, M, passingv through a hole, N, formed in the opposite end of the case, and entering the plate E of the casing. The bottom O of the said case is provided with two oblong slots, I), which receive the staples Q, the said slots being respectively located near opposite walls of the case to afford the room necessary for the backward play of the lockbolts which are actuated in -opposite direc` tions. An upright stud, R, located in the center of the said case J, receives the key S, while small studs T, respectively, located on opposite sides of the stud R, are adapted to enter perforations in theguide-plate U and prevent its displacement, the said plate resting upon the lock-tumblers Y. Studs NV fulfill the twofold function of constituting fulcrumsfor the locktumblers V aforesaid, and for the auxiliary tumblers X, while studs Y, located between the studs W and the stud R, constitute fulcrums for the lock-bolts Z.

Referring to the particular construction of which rest upon the bottom of the case J, are provided with springs A, which impinge against the side wallsof the case and eXerta constant effort to engage the tumblerswith the lock-bolts Z. The inner faces of the said tumblers, which are appropriately cut away toh the locking mechanism, the lock-tumblers V,

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avoid interference with the other parts of the v being provided with shoulders C', which engage with the lock-bolts, as will be hereinafter described. The lock-bolts Z are provided with springs D', which impinge against the side walls of the case J, and automatically throw the bolts into their locked positions when they are released from the ejector, and of that hereafter. These bolts are fulcrumed upon the studs Y, and are provided with oblong slots F', arranged to receive the studs V and permit the play of the bolts. The lock-bolts are also provided with extensions G and H', the under faces of the former being provided with shoulders I', arranged to engage with the shoulders C' of the lock-tumblers V, while the said extensions H' are adapted to be engaged by the central wards of the key. The extensions G' are also provided with pins J', to engage with the auxiliary tumblers X, as will be hereinafter described. The under faces of the lock-bolts are cut away, as shown,to adapt them to fit down over the lock-tumblers and bear upon the bottom of the case. The auxiliary tu mblers X, which, as aforesaid, are fulcrumed upon the studs W, are provided with oblong slots K', which receive the studsY and permit the tumblers to play. rlhe tumblers are further provided with extension-arms M', the

. latter being arranged to extend beyond the stud R and interlock with each other. The tumblers X are also each provided with recess N' and extension-arms M', the recess of each being adapted to receive the extension of the other, and the extension-arms of both being arranged to engage with the pins J of the extensions G', (see Fig. 3,) of the lock-bolts, and thus co-operate with the lock-tumblers in locking the bolts in their locked adjustment. The inner faces of the auxiliary tumblers are cut away, as shown at O', to form an aperture conforming in outline to the key, the upper wards of which are engaged with the said eutaway portions ofthe tumblers. The lock-bolts and the mechanism associated with these are protected by a shield cut away at the ends, as shown at Q', to adapt it to fit over the bolts, and provided with suitable holes, R', to receive the upper ends of the several studs lon cated in the case, as already described. The

shield is also provided with a key-hole, S', and with bearings T', the latter engaging with the plate E of the easing A, and thus holding the shield against displacement. The ejector,

. which is interposed, as shown, between the shield and the said plate E of the casing, consists, essentially, of two bowed springs, U', having their ends united by plates V', the lower faces of the latter being provided withl shoulders W'. The ejector fulfills the twofold function of automatically ejecting the staples from the lock when the lock-bolts are disengaged from them and of holding the said lock-bolts back and in position to permit the staples to enter the slots l?, above referred to, this last function being due to the engagement of the shoulders W' with the ends of the bolts. The key S is provided with two sets of wards, the same being in counterpart, so that thekey will impart the proper movements to the lock bolts and tumblers, whether it be turned to the `right or to the left. Of these wardsthe wards X' operate the lock-tumblers V, while the wards Y and Z', respectively, operate the lock-bolts Z and the auxiliary tumblers X. The recesses A2, formed between the wards X' and Y', are arranged to receive those portions of the guard-plate which are contiguous to the key-hole located in its center.

Having described in det'ail the construction of my improved lock, I will now proceed to set forth the method of its operation. Let it be assumed that the lock is in its locked adjustment, that its bolts are engaged with staples,as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and that it is d esired to unlock the lock and release the said staples. The card is first withdrawn or slipped under to expose thekey-hole in the plate E,thus permitting the introduction of the key into the lock. As the key is turned (and it is immaterial in which direction) the upper and lower wards ofthe key, respectively, engage with the auxiliary and lock-tumblers, and disengage them from the llock-bolts, withV which the central wards of the key now engage and retract with the effect of releasing the staples, which are immediately forced out of thelock by the ejector, the shoulders thereof being at the same time engaged with the ends of the bolts, holding them against the force of the actuatingsprings'from resuming the position due to them when the lock is in its locked adjustment. If now the same or other staples are pressed against the said shoulders W', they will recede and release the lock-bolts, which will immediately engage with the vstaples. As thelockbolts approach their locked adjustment in which they extend across the slots, they are engaged by the tumblers, as described, and prevented from being retracted otherwise than by the disengagement of the tum'blers by means of a suitable key.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the lock not only automatically en gages with the staples and locks itself, but also forcibly ej ects the staples.

In virtue of the described construction and arrangement of the auxiliary tumblers,where by they are operated in opposite directions from the bolts with which they are respectively associated, any jar tending to disturb either of the saidbolts will result in morepositively engaging its auxiliary tumbler with it. It should also be observed that any jar tending to disturb either of the lock-tumblers operates to more positively engage its corresponding auxiliary tumbler with the lock-bolt common to them both,while on the other hand any jar tending to dislocate either of the auxiliary tumblers will tend to more positively engage IOO IIO

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- tion of the auxiliary tumblers to resist disits corresponding lock-.tumbler with the bolt common to them both. The peculiar adapta? turbances in the lock and to co-operative action of the two sets of tumblers to the same end is thus apparent. x

In conforming my lock to the different uses to which it may be applied some changes may be necessary. I'wonld, therefore, have it un-` derstood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown and described, but that I hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall Within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters' Patent, isw

l. In a lock, the combination,with the casing and the case secured therein, the latter having an oblong` slot at each end, the said slots being parallel with the length of the case, of the described pivoted and independent lock- Y bolts provided with shoulders, and the del,

scribed pivoted locking tumblers provided with shoulders which engage those of the said '2,5 lock-bolts to. lock the lock-bolts in their locked adjustment, substantially as set forth.

2. In alock, the combination,with the casing and the case secured therein, the latter having an oblong slot at each end, of independent pivoted lock-bolts provided with shoulders and respectively extending across said slots, independent pivoted locking-tumblers associated with each of said bolts, and an elastic ejector adapted to prevent the bolts from passing the slots, to automatically admit of the bolts engaging with the staples, and to automatically eject the staples from the lock, substantially as set forth.

' In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in'presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ELISHA I.V TEETERS. Vitnesses:

DAVID FARDING, Josrnn B. STANLEY. 

